Amit Shah attends 75-day Bastar Dussehra at Jagdalpur; reiterates 31 March 2026 deadline to end Naxalism
On 4 October 2025 at Jagdalpur, Chhattisgarh, Union Home Minister Amit Shah attended the 75-day Bastar Dussehra and reiterated that Naxalism will be wiped out by 31 March 2026.
Summary
On 4 October 2025 at Jagdalpur, Chhattisgarh, Union Home Minister Amit Shah took part in the 75-day Bastar Dussehra festival with Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai, after praying at the Danteshwari Temple. He said the Rath Yatra of Maa Danteshwari, begun in the 14th century, sparked a cultural awakening in Bastar. He called the Muria Darbar, a tradition of public dialogue and tribal justice since 1874, a global heritage. Shah repeated that 31 March 2026 is the deadline for completely eradicating Naxalism. He said over 500 people had surrendered in the past month, and that every village that becomes fully Naxal-free would get ₹1 crore from the Chhattisgarh government. The 20th instalment of the state's Mahtari Vandan Yojana — ₹607 crore to 70 lakh women — was released at the event.
Key facts
- Festival
- Bastar Dussehra — 75 days; Maa Danteshwari Rath Yatra from 14th century
- Muria Darbar
- Public-dialogue tradition since 1874
- Naxalism
- Deadline 31 Mar 2026; ₹1 cr per Naxal-free village (CG govt)
- Mahtari Vandan
- 20th instalment — ₹607 cr to 70 lakh women
Practice MCQs 3 questions
Bastar Dussehra, attended by Amit Shah at Jagdalpur on 4 October 2025, is a festival lasting how many days?
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Correct answer: D — 75 days
PIB (MHA): Amit Shah described the 75-day-long Bastar Dussehra as significant not only for the tribal community and Chhattisgarh but for the whole country.
The Muria Darbar, a tradition of public dialogue linked to Bastar Dussehra, has been held since which year?
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Correct answer: C — 1874
PIB (MHA): Amit Shah said the Muria Darbar, with its active participation, judicial system and tradition of public dialogue since 1874, is no less than a global heritage.
Consider the following statements about the Bastar Dussehra event of 4 October 2025: 1. The 10th instalment of Chhattisgarh's Mahtari Vandan Yojana was released at the event. 2. Amit Shah reiterated 31 March 2026 as the date by which Naxalism will be completely eradicated. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
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Correct answer: B — 2 only
Only 2 is correct. PIB (MHA): it was the 20th (not 10th) instalment of the Mahtari Vandan Yojana — ₹607 crore to 70 lakh mothers. Shah firmly stated that 31 March 2026 is the set date by which Naxalism will be completely eradicated.